Category Archives: Nature

On January 1, 2013, you can take part in the First Day Hikes program in which all 50 state park systems are sponsoring guided hikes. From coastal trails and ponds to mountain tops and prairies, America’s state parks offer a wide range of beautiful naturescapes. First Day Hikes began over 20 years ago in Milton, Massachusetts, to encourage a healthier lifestyle. 2012 was the first time the event was recognized nationally, and it received great response: 14,000 participants logged over 30,000 miles! This year, there are 627 hikes scheduled. The day’s hikes average 1-2 miles and are led by state park staff and volunteers. Find one in your area. This is a great way to begin the new year: getting outside, getting physical and connecting with family. Being in nature reminds me of what’s important. It centers and rejuvenates me, especially in winter when I tend to hole up indoors. A … Continue reading →

When it comes to bugs, Sofie’s usual response has been: “Ew! A bug - kill it!” I don’t know if this is a typical little girl thing or if I have gone wrong somewhere in teaching her respect for all nature. But this past week she has been excited about bugs. And I have a Mrs. Spider video rented from the library to thank for that. She now even has a favorite bug - the jewel beetle, because it’s pretty, of course. I told her that I’ve always been partial to spiders ever since my childhood when I read “Be Nice to Spiders.” That and the fact that they eat all the more annoying bugs like flies and mosquitoes makes them aces in my book. I don’t know how accurate this statement is, but it does command some admiration for these eight-legged creatures: If spiders didn’t exist we’d have to … Continue reading →

Did you know there is old growth forest in Rhode Island? I didn’t. But tucked away in a housing development in Portsmouth stands a 20-acre meadow and grove of American beech trees, some of which are estimated to be 200-300 years old. Oakland Forest and Meadow is its name – conserved since 2000 by the Aquidneck Land Trust. I found out about it through the Family Passport to Aquidneck Island — the Forest is one of eleven sites where you can collect a stamp for the Passport game, running through October 31, 2010. Old-growth forests are areas that have remained largely undisturbed for hundreds of years, and they offer great ecological advantages. So last weekend we hiked the ¾-mile path, in utter isolation and in awe of the natural history that surrounded us. Sofie clung to my back like a baby animal (there was lots of poison ivy on the … Continue reading →

Sofie’s been going through a phase where she no longer likes to hike. (At least, I hope it’s a phase.) How did this happen? I have blogged here for nearly two years about my nature girl and our outdoor exploits around New England. Now she doesn’t even want to take evening walks in our neighborhood – would rather be carried or pushed in the stroller. Then a few Sundays ago, we finally joined Rhode Island Families in Nature on one of their monthly hikes. This one was through Ryan Park in North Kingstown – a place we’d never been — and Sofie actually seemed to enjoy herself. She walked about two-thirds of the trail herself. It must have been the other kids. Group behavior. Seeing other little ones hiking and having fun zapped the whining right out of her. That, and stopping for a mug of hot chocolate afterwards. She … Continue reading →